Nottingham Forest find themselves with a bloody nose, dazed and down on the canvas in their Championship play-offs fight, but there is still time for them to regain their feet and get themselves back into the fray.

Defeat at Stoke City delivered a blow to Martin O’Neill’s side, but it was not a decisive one; they are not yet out for the count.

On a day when Nottingham’s Leigh Wood claimed the Commonwealth featherweight belt by halting Abraham Osei Bonsu in just the second round, his team failed to deliver anything like the same brand of destructive firepower in the Potteries.

In fact, Forest barely laid a glove on their opponent, amid a contest that was closely contested, but generally lacking in much quality.

Thanks, in part, to some uncharacteristically poor – in recent times at least – defending from the Reds, the home side were able to conjure up two decisive finishes, either side of half-time, to secure three points.

For the close to 3,000 fans who made the short trip down the A50, this will have been a disappointing day but, if we are honest, perhaps not an entirely surprising one.

If only because, while the arrival of O’Neill has unquestionably been a breath of fresh air – and a catalyst for improved performances in recent times – the same old problems continue to haunt them.

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Forest arrived at the bet365 Stadium looking to secure back-to-back wins for the first time since September. They will also have come armed with a renewed sense of confidence, following a morale boosting, encouraging win over Derby County.

But come 5pm, they left for the return journey, having to contemplate some difficult facts.

While the improved performances at West Brom and Preston could and should have earned Forest victories, they ultimately did not.

Stoke City's Peter Etebo fires in to make it 1-0 against Nottingham Forest

And, while a sense of injustice will understandably continue to underpin the sense of disappointment, following those much-discussed refereeing decisions, there is also no escaping the fact the Reds’ last away win came in late November, against Hull City.

This was Forest’s ninth game on the road without a win.

That run includes credible draws at Aston Villa, Derby and Norwich, as well as those controversial moments at the Hawthorns and Deepdale.

Things could easily have been very different, with a little more fortune.

Benik Afobe’s well-taken strike - roughly 15 minutes from the end, after sub Joao Carvalho had lost the ball - essentially ended this as a contest, despite a late, but ultimately ineffective flurry from the visitors.

Carvalho had already been denied by a strong save from Jack Butland when he saw another chance go begging, as he failed to control an unselfish ball from Leo Bonatini. While the third Reds sub, Adlene Guedioura, flicked a header wide and saw a trademark shot from range saved.

Forest were just never quite as convincing as they had been in their previous four games, which could easily have garnered four consecutive wins.